Cylinder closure structure



May 11 1965 v `c. HoRowl-rz ET/lu..v 3,182,849A

CYLINDER CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed sept. 1s. 1961 2 Sheets-sheet 1 May 11, 1965 c. HoRown-z ETAL 35182849 CYLINDER CLOSURE lSTRUCTURE Filed sept. 1s. 1961 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent Otlice 3,182,8@4 Patented May 11, 196

Y 3,182,849` CYLINDER CLOSURE STRUCTURE Charles Horowitz, Chicago, Harold L. Dohriirin, Highland Park, and Victor Mastis, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Berg Mfg. & Sales Co., Des Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Sept. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 137,861

2 Claims. (Cl. 22d- 46) may be easily and simplyinstalled and removed from the Y cylinder with which it isty employed.

Another purpose is to provide a cylinder closure which may be manually inserted and removed from a cylinder with which it is employed.

Another purpose is to provide a cylinderclosureof maximum simplicity in manufacture and use.

Another purpose is to provide a` cylinder closure etiective to close a cylinder against the escape of fluid pressure therefrom and to serve as a thrust means against which a spring may be exerted in the operation of a piston within said cylinder. r

Another purpose is to provide a cylinder and closure assembly. Y

VAnother purpose is to provide,'in a cylinder having a piston reciprocal therein and yielding means for moving said piston in one direction, anassembly effective to provide -for maximum ease and safety in removing said closure piston and spring from said cylinder. Y

, Another purpose is to provide a cylinder closure structure employing a single retaining element.

Another purpose is to provide a thrust plate closure for cylinders and a single retaining element therefor, the plate having a portion in cooperation with the retaining element.

Other purposes will appear from time to time during the course of the specication and claims. g' l `We illustrate our invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in partial cross-section',

FIGURE 2 is an end view,

FIGURE 3 is an end View illustrating a Variant form, and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional side View of the closure Y structure shownin FIGURE 3.*

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specification and drawings. Y y

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, the numeral 1 generally designates a cylinder. The cylinder 1 has a circumferential wall 2 and an end wall 3 at one end thereof. The opposite end of cylinder 1 is open.. A iiuid pressure inlet 4 is formed in the cylinder 1 and communicates with the interior thereof adjacent the end wall 3. v

Reciprocally mounted within cylinder 1` is a piston assembly 5 having a hollow tubular extension 6 penetrating an aperture 7 formed in the end wall 3. A pad or other suitable element 8 is secured to the extension 6 outwardly of cylinder 1, it being understood that the element 8 may be arranged for operation of any suitable mechanism in response to movement ofthe piston 5 toward endwall 3 and resulting movement of the element 8, without d parting from the nature and scope of the invention.

A suitable seal assembly 9 seals the aperture 7 again the escape of fluid pressure from the interior of Chamb 1 therethrough.

The member 6 has a hollow or well 10. Mounted wit in the hollow 10 is a head 11. The head 11 is carrie by a threaded shaft or bolt 12 which extends through z abutment ring 11a having an inner diameter less thz head 11 and through the piston 5 into a hollow threadc sleeve 13. The sleeve 13 has a nut head 14 extendir outwardly of cylinder 1 and beyond a closure plate l positioned within the open end of cylinder 1.

r The closure plate 15 is or" a diameter only slightly le than the inner diameter of cylinder 1. At one point c the periphery of closure plate 15, a key 16 is formi for engagement in a slot 17 formed in the innerwall i cylinder 1 and communicating with the open end therec the key 16 being of a width substantially equal to th of slot 17 whereby the plate 15 is positioned against rot tion in the otherwise open end of cylinder 1. A se member, such as the O-ring 13, is positioned between tl outer circumferential surface of plate 1S and is seats in the recess 19 in the inner wall of cylinder 1 to se cylinder 1 against the escape of iluid pressure'about pla 15. lt will be observed that the wall of key 16 is r cessed from the plate surface of plate 15 to provide fr reception of seal 1S.

Positioned between Ythe piston 5 and end plate 15 is coil spring member 2li, the opposite ends of which a: in contact with, and the force of which is exerted again piston 5 and end plate 15, to urge the same in opposi directions. i. i

inwardly spaced from the open end of cylinder 1, ar formed in the inner wall thereof, is an annular groove 2 the groove 21 being immediately adjacent the recess l in the inner wall of cylinder 1 and, in eiect, communica ing therewith. A rst pair of retaining rings 22, 22a, eac of which is substantially semi-circular, are seated groove 21 and each has its rear surface in contact with portion of the seal ring 1S. The retaining rings 22, 22 are in contact with substantially the entire upper and lowi semi-circular halves of seal ring 18, respectively. A se ond pair of retaining rings 23, 23a are seated in groove 2 iilling substantially the entire semi-circular left and rigl hand portions thereof, respectively, as viewed from tl left hand portion of FIGURE l, or as illustrated in FI( URE 2. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the rings 23, 23 are slightly less than semi-circular, the opposed enc thereof leaving a space therebetween, as indicated best z 25 in FiGURE 2.

The end plate 15 has an annular ridge 15a inwardf spaced from its periphery and of suliicient height to e: tend beyond the combined thicknesses of rings 22, 22 and 23, 23a, as best seen in FIGURE l. The circulz ridge 15a is inwardly spaced from the periphery of plaA 15 a distance less than the width of the rings 22-23 whereby the rings 22-23a are retained with portions then of in groove 21, and the ends thereof are retained space apart, as indicated at Z5 in FIGURE 2, it being unde stood that the rings 22, 22a similarly have their enc spaced apart at diametrically opposed `points spaced E degrees about the surface of end plate 15 from the4 spacl between opposed ends of rings 23, 23a and behind tl rings 23, 23a. Y

The use and operation of the invention are as follow:

ln assembling the-device of the invention, the piston..` bolt 12, head 11, abutment 11a, spring 20 and plate 1 are assembled with head 11 abutting member 11a and tt engagement of bolt 12 with sleeve 13 serving to clamp ti spring, plate and piston in a unitary assembly. This a:

bly is then placed in cylinder 1 and moved inwardly 'eof until plate 15 reache-s the position indicated in EURE 2. At this position, the retaining rings 22-22a ld not be placed in the groove 21 because of the limited ance between extension or ridge 15a and the opposed 'ace of cylinder 1. The assembly is therefore moved her into cylinder 1, the slot 17, with the key 16 therein, lg of sufficient extension to permit such inward moveit of plate 15. As the ridge 15a is moved inwardly of )ve 21, the seal ring 18 is placed in groove 19 of nder 1, and the retaining rings 22, 22a are placed roove 21 in position against seal 1S. The rings 23, are then placed in the groove 21 in overlapping relaship with rings 22, 22a, as indicated in FIGURE 2. plate 15 is then permitted to return in a direction outdly of cylinder 1 until it abuts the rear surface of s 22, 22a and engages in sealing engagement with the 18, in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. Therer, operation of piston is controlled by the fluid presentering at inlet 4, the presence of fluid pressure in ider 1 holding the piston in rearward position against action of spring 20 and maintaining the spring 2@ in .pressed contiguration. Upon failure of pressure in lder 1 between piston 5 and end wall 3, the spring s effective to move piston 5 toward end wall 3 and, ugh the mediacy of extension 6 and element 8, to ate the mechanism with which the assembly is asated. fhen it is desired to remove elements from cylinder )r repair or replacement, it will be realized that the 1g 20, being of Substantial power, would be effective, l with piston 5 against end wall 3, to cause a rapid ilsion of .any end plate outwardly of cylinder 1 upon ase of any retaining means, thus risking the injury ersonnel. Accordingly, removal of such assemblies is mplished by rotation of head 14 of sleeve 13 to luce, through the mediacy of the threaded engaget with shaft 12, a retraction of shaft 12 and an abutof head 11 with abutment 11a. When this position ached, the members 5 and 15 are clamped together, an appropriate portion 5a of piston 5 abutting an r surface of plate and holding the spring 2t) comsed between members 5 and 15. It will be realized, he course of such assembly, that iluid pressure is nt from the area within cylinder 1 between piston 5 end wall 3. With the members 5 and 15 so clamped ther, the assembly of elements 5, and 15 may be ually moved inwardly of cylinder 1, with the key 15 'ing to the inner end of slot 1'7 to remove extension 15a i alignment with groove 21, and thus to permit the ining rings 23, 23a to be moved toward each other, spaces 25 being designed for this purpose. With the s 23, 23a moved inwardly to bring their opposed ends contact, their over-all diameter is reduced to a length than the diameter of cylinder 1 and the rings 23, 23a be simply withdrawn from cylinder 1. Similarly, the ridge 15a unmasking groove 21, the rings 22, 22a simply brought together to reduce their over-all comd diameter to something less than that of cylinder 1 to permit simple withdrawal of rings 22, 22a. Therer the seal ring 18 may be removed and, if desired, assembled members 5, 15 and 20 may be removed as it from the cylinder 1. Where, of course, the repair il-s only a replacement of seal 18, it will be realized the assembly 5, 15 and 20 may be allowed to remain n inward position in cylinder 1 until such time as a seal 18 is in position, at which time the assembly steps ribed above may be repeated to reassemble the device 1e invention. YIn such reassembly, the sleeve 13 is, ourse, rotated in the opposite direction to move the l 11 into the position illustrated in FIGURE l, thus ng the piston 5 for movement throughout its excurwithin cylinder 1.

aferring now to the variant form illustrated in FIG- S 3 and 4, those parts corresponding substantially identically to parts previously described and illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 are provided with the same numeral. In the arrangement of FIGURES 3 and 4, a single retaining ring 39 is seated in groove 21. While groove 19 and seal 1S are not shown in FIGURE 4, it will be realized that these elements could be provided as illustrated in FIGURE l without departing from the scope of the invention.

The retaining ring is of a thickness such as could substantially till groove 21 while allowing for ease of entering into and departure from said groove.

The member 30 is spring-like in construction, comprising a type of split ring in which a central portion 31 is of a substantial width suicient to till groove 21 and to extend across the face of plate 15, a substantial distance toward angular ridge 15a. From the portion 31, the member 311 gradually diminishes in width in opposite curving directions as indicated at 32, 33. The opposed, spaced ends 34, 35 of member 30 are enlarged in width to provide ears 36, 37 in which apertures 38, 39 may be respectively formed for insertion of an appropriate tool.

In assembly and disassembly of the form illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, elements 5 and 15 with spring 2t? clamped therebetween by members 11, 11a, 12 and 13 are moved inwardly into cylinder 1 until ridge 15a uncovers groove 21. Member 30, with its ends 34, 35 held in juxtaposition by a suitable tool engaging apertures 3S, 39, is then placed in the open end of cylinder 1 and moved inwardly until member 39 is aligned with groove 21. At this point the ends 34, 35 are permitted to separate further and the member 30 consequently to expand to seat'within groove 21 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The sleeve 13 is then rotated until the parts are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the plate 15 is held against spring 30 and spring 20 is compressed by air pressure operating against piston 5.

Whereas a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that further modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing specification.' Accordingly, the foregoing description should be taken as merely illustrative and not delinitive, and the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following appended claims.

We claim:

l. In combination, an open-ended cylinder and a closure structure therefor comprising a circular plate, said plate having a diameter less than the inner diameter of said cylinder, a sealy between the peripheral edge of said plate and the inner wall of said cylinder, a groove in the inner wall of said cylinder adjacent the open end thereof and between said seal and the outer open end of said cylinder, a circular extension on said plate having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylinder and said plate, a pair of retaining ring elements, each of said ring elements being substantially semi-circular in planar section, each of said ring elements having a width greater than the radial distance between said extension and the peripheral edge of said plate, each of said ring elements having a peripheral portion seated in said groove and an inner surface in Contact with said seal and with the outerV surface of said plate between said extension and the inner wall of said cylinder, a second pair of substantially semi-circular retaining ring elements, said second pair of retaining elements being substantially identical to said iirst pair of retaining elements and having peripheral portions seated in said groove, the opposed ends of said second retaining elements being circumferentially spaced from the opposed ends of said first retaining ring elements.

2. In combination, an open-ended cylinder, a circular plate having a diameter less than the inner diameter of said cylinder and slidably mounted in the open end of said cylinder, a groove in the inner wall of said cylinder adjacent the open end thereof, a circular ridge extending from Vthe outer face of said plate a distance at lea-st equal to the Width of said groove, said ridge being inwardly spaced from the peripheral edge of said plate and being normally held in alignment with said groove, a firstpair of retaining ring elements, each of said ring elements being substantially semi-circular in planar section, each of said ring elements having a Width greater than the radial distance between said ridge and the peripheral edge of said plate, each of said ring elements having a peripheral portion seated in said groove and an inner surface in contact with the outer surface of said plate between said ridge and the inner wall of said cylinder, a second pair of substantially semi-circular retaining ring elements, said second pair of retaining elements being substantially identical to said first pair of retaining elements and having peripheral portions seated in said groove, the opposed ends of said second retaining elements being circumferenti spaced from the opposed ends of said first retaining elements.

References Cited by the Examiner 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,144 8/31 Heierrnann.

1,362,215 12/20 Appelt. 1,751,453 3/30 Beemer. 10 2,625,343 1/ 53 Foote 292-25t 2,662,663 12/53 Schmidt et al. 2,725 ,252 11/55 Greer 1 220- 2,854,954 10/58 Howze 18S-151.1

15 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

A. JOSEPH GOLDBERG, EARLE I. DRUMMOI Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN OPEN-ENDED CYLINDER AND A CLOSURE STRUCTURE THEREFOR COMPRISING A CIRCULAR PLATE, SAID PLATE HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDER, A SEAL BETWEEN THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID PLATE AND THE INNER WALL OF SAID CYLINDER, A GROOVE IN THE INNER WALL OF SAID CYLINDER ADJACENT THE OPEN END THEREOF AND BETWEEN SAID SEAL AND THE OUTER OPEN END OF SAID CYLINDER, A CIRCULAR EXTENSION ON SAID PLATE HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CYLINDER AND SAID PLATE, A PAIR OF RETAINING RING ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID RING ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR IN PLANAR SECTION, EACH OF SAID RING ELEMENTS HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE RADIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EXTENSION AND THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID PLATE, EACH OF SAID RING ELEMENTS HAVING A PERIPHERAL PORTION SEATED IN SAID GROOVE AND AN INNER SURFACE IN CONTACT WITH SAID SEAL AND WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID PLATE BETWEEN SAID EXTENSION AND THE INNER WALL OF SAID CYLINDER, A SECOND PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR RETAINING RING ELEMENTS, SAID SECOND PAIR OF RETAINING ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO SAID FIRST PAIR OF RETAINING ELEMENTS AND HAVING PERIPHERAL PORTIONS SEATED IN SAID GROOVE, THE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID SECOND RETAINING ELEMENTS BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED FROM THE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID FIRST RETAINING RING ELEMENTS. 